Lead caulking tool



March 27, 1962 K. PRlNS ETAL 3,026,750

LEAD CAULKING TOOL Filed June 3, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTORS ARTHUR J. STOCKMEISTER g KLAAS PRINS BY I MAHONEY, MILLER a RAMBO, ATTYS.

WAWM

March 27, 1962 K. PRINS ETAL LEAD CAULKING TOOL 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1960 FIG.3

INVENTORS ARTHUR J. STOCKMEISTER KLAAS PRiNS MAHONEY, MILLER z. RAMBO, ATTY'S. BY M March 27, 1962 K. PRlNS ET AL LEAD CAULKING TOOL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 3, 1960 FIG. 4

INVENTORS A HUR J. STOCKMEISTER K AS PRINS BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8| RAMBO, ATTYS.

March 27, 1962 K. PRINS ET AL 3,026,750

LEAD CAULKING TOOL Filed June 3, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5

INVENTORS ARTHUR J. STOCKMEISTER KLAAS PRINS BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO, ATTYS.

March 27, 1962 K. PRINS ETAL.

LEAD CAULKING TOOL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3, 1960 INVENTORS ARTHUR J. STOCKMEISTER KLAAS PRINS MAHONEY, MILLER 8. RAMBO ,ATTYS BY March 27, 1962 K. PRINS ETAL 3,026,750

LEAD CAULKING TOOL Filed June a, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 9

JNVENTORS ARTHUR J. STOCKMEISI'ER Y KLAAS PRINS MAHONEY, MILLER& RAMBO, ATTY'S.

V snza'zss Patented Mar. 27,, 1962 3,026,750 LEAD CAULKENG TOOL Klaas Prins, Wellston, and Arthur J. Stoclnneister, Jackson, Ohio, assignors to Beaver Pipe Toots, llnc., Warren, Ohio, a corporation of (Halo Filed June 3, 1%0, Ser. No. 33,671 11 Claims. (Cl. 78-47) Our invention relates to a lead caulking tool. It has to do, more particularly, with a tool for use in connection with soil pipe in the operation of forcing the lead, previously poured in the joint, into its final sealing position between the bell of one pipe section and the inserted end of another pipe section.

It is well known that the forcing of the poured lead into its final position in a lead-poured soil pipe joint is a tedious and time-consuming process. With the present wages of skilled plumber-s, this has become an expensive operation. As is also well known, this operation is usually accomplished by means of a hammer and caulking tool, the end of the tool being inserted in the joint and the lead being pounded home or in final sealing position. It is necessary to travel completely around the joint with the end of the tool and this is sometimes difficult to do, especially where the soil pipe is in a ditch or a confined space and it is difiicult to obtain access to the lower side of the joint and impossible to see it. The result is that often the joints are not properly caulked and leakage occurs.

It is the main object of our invention to provide a simple and inexpensive tool which may be applied to the poured joint of a soil pipe and which can be operated merely by rotating it to force the poured lead into its final sealing position.

Another object of our invention is to provide a lead caulking tool for cast iron soil pipes which is of such a nature that it will not produce undue strains on the pipe tending to crack the pipe.

A further object of our invention is to provide a caulking tool of the type indicated which can be applied to and removed from the soil pipe joint with ease and with speed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a lead caulking tool for cast iron soil pipes which is of such nature that it can be operated by relatively unskilled labor.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a lead caulking tool which can be operated without danger of injury to the operator.

Another object of our invention is to provide a lead caulking tool which can be operated With ease in limited spaces and which is of such a nature that it is not important for the operator to have a good view of the complete circumference of the pipe.

Various other objects will be apparent.

According to our invention, we provide a lead caulking tool for use on cast iron soil pipes which comprises two main units, namely, a clamping ring and a leadcompressing ring. Both of the rings are split to facilitate application to and removal from the soil pipe. The clamping ring is positioned on the bell of one section of the pipe and is provided with means for firmly clamping it thereto without danger of cracking the bell. The leadcompressing ring, although split, is provided with threads so that it screws into the clamping ring which is provided with complemental threads. Ratchet means is provided for rotating the lead-compressing ring step-bystep so that it gradually moves inwardly toward the poured lead and prevents reverse rotation. The leadcompressing ring is provided with a plurality of leadcompressing lugs, which extend inwardly toward the poured lead, and which will apply inward pressure on the poured lead as the compression ring is rotated in the clamping ring and is gradually moved axially inwardly relative to the bell and the poured lead. By this simple operation, the lead will gradually be forced inwardly of the bell into its final sealing position between the bell and associated pipe end.

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated the prefererd form of our lead caulking tool but it is to be understood that specific details may be varied without departing from basic principles.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a lead caulking tool embodying our invention and showing it in closed position on soil pipe.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an axial sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the tool in open position relative to the soil pipe.

FIGURE 6 is a detail taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 1 showing the closing and locking lever.

FIGURE 7 is a detail in section taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 showing one of the lead-compressing lugs of the tool.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9 of FIGURE 1.

With reference to the drawings, we have indicated our tool generally by the numeral 10* and have shown it applied to soil pipe which includes one section having a bell 11 thereon and another section having a shouldered end 12 which is inserted into the bell section 1 1 as indicated best in FIGURE 3. Oakum is forced into the joint in the usual manner, as indicated at 13. Then lead is poured into the joint against the oakum in the usual manner and the poured lead is indicated at 14. As is well known, after the lead is poured in the joint, it shrinks at it solidifies and, therefore, it must be subjected to axially inward compressing forces to cause it to expand into sealing contact with the adjacent surfaces of the pipe. The tool 10 of our invention performs this operation quickly and effectively.

As previously indicated, the toolconsists mainly of two units, namely, a clamping ring 15 which is clamped around the bell 11 and a compressing ring 16 which is threaded into the clamping ring 15 and carries means for engaging and compressing the poured lead 14. Both of these rings are split, as indicated, to facilitate application to and removal from the soil pipe.

The clamping ring 15 comprises the half-ring sections and 15!; which are hinged together at 17. At a point diametrically opposed to the pivot point 17, the ends of the ring sections 15a and 15b meet at the fiat mating surfaces 18. At the hinged side, the ring sections 15a and 15b meet at the flat mating surfaces 18a when they are in closed relationship. The half ring sections 1511 and 15b are provided with clamping lugs for engaging the bell 11 to position the clamping ring firmly thereon. As shown best in FIGURE 4, the ring half section 15b is provided with a lug 24) pivoted for radial rocking movement at the pivot point 21 to the ring section, the lug being disposed in a radial slot 22 within the ring section which is of s-ufiicient extent to permit the necessary rocking movement of the lug. The lug 20 is provided with an inner gripping edge 23, which may be knurled if desired, and the lug extends outwardly from the ring section a substantial distance with its projecting end indicated at 24. To this projecting end 24, a tension spring 25 is connected and this spring is anchored at its opposite end to the ring section by means of an anchoring bolt 26. At the other end of the ring section 1511, a somewhat similar clamping lug 27 is provided and is pivoted by a pin 28 to the ring section, being positioned within a radial slot 29 formed within the ring section. This clamping lug 27 is provided with an inner clamping edge 30, which also may be knurled, and with outwardly projecting corners 31 and 32. The lug 27 is operatively connected to the lug 20 by means of a link chain 33 which connects to the outer corner 31 of the lug 2.7 and the outer end 24 of the lug 20. The chain 33 is located below a peripheral flange 34 formed on the ring section b, as shown best in FIGURE 9.

The ring section 15a is provided with similar clamping lugs which are designated a and 27a, respectively, and which are operatively connected together by means of the chain 330, that is located below the flange 34a.

In order to lock the ring 15 around the bell 11, when the ring is closed by bringing the ring half sections 15a and 15b together with their mating ends 18 in contact, a locking lever 35 is provided and is best shown in FIG- URES l, 4, 5 and 6. This lever 35 is pivoted at 36 to the corner 32a of the lug 27a. The opposite end of the lever 35 is provided with a slot 35a which will receive the corner 32 of the lug 27, it being apparent from FIG- URE 5 that this corner 32 projects radially outwardly and is provided with a latch-receiving notch or keeper 37. This notch 37 is of arcuate form and is adapted to receive a ball 38, within the slot 35a, which is formed on the inner end of the latch screw 39. This screw has pivoted to its outer end at 40 a latch handle 41 by means of which it may be rotated. It will be apparent that if the lever 35 is swung inwardly about the pivot 36 and over the outwardly projecting lug corner 32, the locking lever 35 will be disposed tangentially relative to the half ring sections 15:: and 15b as shown in FIGURE 4. The ball 38 will be positioned in alignment with the notch 37 and if the latch screw 39 is now rotated, the ball will be forced into the notch. This will draw the ring sections 15a and 15b around the bell 11. At the same time, it will pivot the lug 27 about the pivot 28 and the lug 27a about the pivot 28a toward each other. This will rock these lugs 27 and 27a so that their inner edge surfaces 30 and 30m will be clamped against the outer surface of the bell 11. At the same time, the lugs 20 and 20a will be rocked in opposite directions relatively, about their respective pivots 21 and 21a, until their inner clamping edge surfaces 23 and 23a firmly clamp against the outer surface of the bell 11.

Rocking of the lugs 20 and 20a occurs simultaneously with the rocking of the lugs 27 and 27a due to the chain connections 33 and 3311. As soon as the locking lever 35 is released from the lug 27 by backing 0E the latch screw 39 and swinging the lever 35 outwardly as shown in FIGURE 5, the springs 25 and 25a will rock the lugs 20 and 20a automatically to their releasing positions and through the medium of the chains 33 and 33a, respectively, will rock the lugs 27 and 27a to their releasing positions, as shown in FIGURE 5. Thus, by proper actuation of the locking lever 35, the ring 15 is clamped in position on the bell 11 by clamping lugs which grip it at four areas distributed angularly around the bell 11. All of the lugs are operated to clamp the bell with uniform pressure. Consequently, the even distribution of pressure and the simultaneous application of it will prevent cracking of the bell. Furthermore, all of the lugs are automatically released from the bell upon release of the closing and locking lever 35.

One of the clamping ring sections, for example, the clamping ring section 15a as shown in FIGURES l, 4 and 9, is provided with a radially projecting socket member 45 which is integral with the ring section. This socket member 45 has an outwardly opening, slightly angled socket 46 for removably receiving a rod 47. This rod may be used to prevent rotation of the soil pipe, which is gripped by the clamping ring 10, during operation of the tool as will be apparent later.

The clamping ring sections 15a and 151) are provided with the upstanding flanges 50 and 500, respectively. Each of these flanges is provided with a buttress thread 51 on its inner surface and when the ring sections 15a and 1512 are locked in closed position, the threads 51 on the two sections are continuations of each other. Thus, with the ring sections 15a and 15b closed, there is provided an outwardly opening threaded socket which, as will be apparent below, will receive the threaded extending portion of the compressing ring 16.

The compressing ring 16 comprises the half ring sections 55a and 55b which, when the tool is in operation, meet at the diametrically opposed flat mating surfaces 58 and 58a. The ring sections 55:: and 55!) are of identical form and it will be noted that the ring section 55b comprises a ratchet member 60 which extends axially inwardly and has ratchet teeth 61 on its outer surface. The ratchet member is also provided with a flange 62 which extends radially inwardly and overlaps a lugcarrying member 63. This lug-carrying member 63 is parallel to the vertical flange 60a of the member 60 and carries a buttress thread 64 which cooperates with the buttress thread 51 on the flange 50 of the ring section 15!). When the tool is assembled the flanges 60a and 63 are on opposite sides of the flange 50, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 8. The flange 62 is fastened to the member 63 by means of a plurality of screws 65. The vertical flanges 60a and 63 being on opposite sides of the flange 50 serves to prevent disengagement of the ratchet ring and clamping ring, respectively. In other words, when the tool is opened, the tool will not fall apart due to the ratchet ring sections and the clamping ring sections separating radially or laterally.

The other ring section 55a of the ring 16 is similarly formed with the threads 64 and when the sections 55a and 55b are swung together and are screwed into the closed clamping ring 15, the threads 64 on the two sections are continuations of each other. Thus, with the ring sections 55a and 55b positioned within the closed ring sections 15a and 151:, there is provided an axially inwardly projecting threaded male portion for insertion into the axially outwardly projecting threaded female socket portion of the clamping ring 15. The relationship of the rings 15 and 16, when closed and cooperating with each other, is illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The relationship when opened is illustrated in FIGURE 5. Obviously, when the tool is to be opened or closed the mating ends 58 and 58a of the ring sections 55 and 55a should be in radial alignment with the axis of the hinge pin 17.

As indicated best in FIGURES l, 5, 7 and 8, each of the ring sections 55a and 55b carries lead compressing lugs 70. Each of these lugs 70 is fastened by means of screws 71 (FIGURE 7) to the member 63 and extends axially inwardly. Each lug extends beyond the inner edge of the member 63 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The inner end of each lug 70 is on a slight radius 72, as indicated best in FIGURE 7. These lugs are adapted to engage the outer edge of the lead 14 and form therein a sealing groove 73, the lugs being moved in such a direction that the receding corner 74 of each is the leading corner so that there is a gradual compressing or wedging action on the lead.

When the tool is assembled and the ring 16 is positioned within the ring 15, the ring 16 is rotated and threaded into the ring 15 by means of a pawl member 75, shown in FIGURES l, 5 and 9, which engages the ratchet 61 on the ring sections 55a and 55b. This pawl member 75 is pivoted by a pin 76 to the oscillatable ratchet actuating lever 77 which is pivoted by a pin 78 to the radially projecting socket member 45 carried by the ring section 15b, as shown best in FIGURES 1, and 9. The member 77 is provided with an outwardly projecting stud portion '79 over which the end of a rod or pipe 80 may slip. Thus, by swinging the rod Sh the pawl 75 may be actuated to engage the ratchet teeth 61 and rotate the ring 16 step-by-step. This will cause it to screw into the ring 15, as shown in FIGURE 8, and this inward movement can continue until the lug-carrying members 63 contact the outer edge of the bell 11, as shown in FIGURE 3. This screwing of the ring 16 into the ring 15 will move the lead compressing lugs it; gradually radially inwardly as they are moved about the axis of the bell 11 with the ring sections 55a and 555. There will be a gradual compressing action of the lead 14 as the sealing groove 73 is formed therein. Because of the recessed corner 74 on each lug 70, there will be a gradual wedging action on the lead. As the ratchet is actuated by oscillation of the rod 8%, the rod 4'7 which is inserted in the socket 4-6 (FIGURE 9) is held to prevent rotation or strain on the pipe bell 11.

The rod or pipe member Si) is provided with a bayonet slot 190a at its inner end which cooperates with a locking pin 7% projecting radially from the stud portion 79. Thus, a releasable locking arrangement is provided to lock the socket member 89 to the stud portion 79. The opposite end of the pipe or rod 8t) is provided with an insert or stud iii (FIGURE 1) which will fit the hole or socket 46 in the socket member 45. When the operator is finished with ratcheting the compressing ring 16 to force the lead in place, the ratchet rod or pipe 80 may be removed and its stud end 81 inserted in the socket 46 to hold the clamping ring 15 from rotation and also the soil pipe on which it is clamped.

The rod 47 may have a spanner wrench formation 82 on the end opposite the end which fits in the socket 46. This spanner wrench formation may be inserted selectively in pairs of openings 83 provided in the outer face of the ring sections 55a and 55b. This wrench portion can be used in unscrewing the ring 16 from the ring 15 when the lead compressing operation has been completed. At this time, it is also preferable to hold the clamping ring with the rod 81 as indicated above.

It will be apparent from the above description that the tool of this invention comprises a female clamping ring which clamps around the bell of the cast iron pipe and which receives the male compressing ring. Rotation of the compressing ring causes it to feed inwardly into the clamping ring due to their cooperating buttress threads. This advances the lead compressing lugs into the joint and into engagement with the outer edge of the poured lead to gradually form a sealing groove therein which expands the lead into tight sealing contact with associated surfaces of the pipe at the joint. Both of the ring sections are split to facilitate application to and removal from the pipe joint. The clamping ring is so designed that it will distribute the stress which it applies to the pipe bell so as to eliminate possibility of breakage of the pipe. The tool is operated merely by rotating it and, therefore, can be used by unskilled labor. There is no danger of injury to the operator. Furthermore, the tool can be used in limited spaces and it is not necessary that the operator have a view of the complete circumference of the pipe.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A caulking tool for use in compressing a compressible joint material or the like between one pipe section inserted in another pipe section, comprising a clamping ring adapted to be clamped around the latter section and a compression ring mounted on the clamping ring and having compressing means for engaging the joint material, a threaded connection between the two rings to move the compressing ring inwardly relative to the clamping ring upon relative rotation thereof and comprising a threaded socket in the clamping ring and a threaded portion on the compressing ring for screwing into the socket, and means for rotating the compressing ring to move said ring inwardly relative to said clamping ring, both of said rings being split rings, said clamping ring having half sections hinged together, and said compressing ring having separate half sections, each of which is positioned in the corresponding section of the clamping ring.

2. A caulking tool according to claim 1 including a locking lever connected to one of said clamping ring sections and engageable with the other clamping ring section.

3. A caulking tool according to claim 1 in which the compressing means of the compressing ring embodies lugs extending radially inwardly.

4. A caulking tool according to claim 3 in which the end of the lug is shaped to provide a wedging contact with the compressible joint material.

5. A caulking tool according to claim 5 in which said rotating means comprises a ratchet means between the two rings.

6. A caulking tool for use in compressing a compressible joint material or the like between one pipe section inserted in a socket portion in another pipe section, comprising a clamping ring for clamping around the latter pipe section, said ring carrying rockable clamping lugs for engaging the assocaited pipe section, means for moving said lugs into clamping position, said ring having an outwardly opening threaded socket, and a compressing ring having an inwardly projecting threaded portion for screwing into said socket, joint material compressing lugs carried by said compressing ring and extending axially inwardly thereof, and means for rotating the compressing ring relative to the clamping ring and comprising a ratchet means between the two rings, both rings being formed of half sections, said clamping ring having its sections hinged together.

7. A caulking tool according to claim 6 in which each of the half sections carries a pair of the rockable clamping lugs, and a connection between the said clamping lugs for producing simultaneous operation thereof.

8. A caulking tool according to claim 7 including yieldable means tending to rock said lugs in non-clamping position.

9. A caulking tool according to claim 8 including a locking lever pivoted to the free end of one of said clamping ring sections and having adjustable means for engaging one of the clamping lugs carried on the other clamping ring section, said last-named lug being adjacent the free end of the ring section which carries it.

10. A caulking tool according to claim 9 in which the inner ends of the joint material compressing lugs are on a radius so as to provide a wedging contact with the joint material.

11. A caulking tool according to claim 6 in which each compressing ring section also has an outer flange portion overlapping the associated half section of the clamping ring to prevent radial separation.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

